Nursing Commons^™

Gram-Negative Bacteria And Sepsis, Christine D. Ridge

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Today’s medical world encompasses an environment in which gram-negative bacteria that once were defeated with common antibiotics, have now become resistant. Gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter, and Acinetobacter are pathogens that are an emerging threat causing sepsis due to multidrug-resistance (Pop-Vicas & Opal, 2014, p.189). The multidrug-resistance mechanisms of gram-negative bacteria coupled with a patient population commonly seen in hospital settings, that consist of immunocompromised adults due to advancing age, comorbidities (e.g. AIDS, history of transplants, diabetes, and chemotherapy), and immunotherapies, create an environment for advanced infection or sepsis to take place.

Complications of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria …

Guillain-Barré- Adding Insult To Injury, Casey M. Hudnall

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

a poster project about Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) which is described as an acute peripheral neuropathy causing limb asthenia, or weakness, that progresses over a short period of time.

Calcific Aortic Stenosis, Michelle L. Rapach

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Degenerative calcific aortic stenosis is a progressive disease that becomes more severe with age and is a direct result of an active inflammatory process. The life expectancy of the United States’ population is increasing and with it, the incidence of aortic stenosis has increased over the past several decades. Surgical data suggests an rise in prevalence of the disease by over 25% over the past ten years (Bonow & Greenland, 2015). Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are more fequently encountering patients of an advanced age and recent technologic advancements have created more treatment options for aortic stenosis. APNs should be aware …

Infective Endocarditis Related To Iv Drug Abuse, Jasmine D. Branch

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Drug abuse in the United States continues to rise. In 2014, the U.S. had the highest rate of deaths due to drug overdose (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). There are several health conditions that are associated with drug abuse. Intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) is a common route used, which often works fast and causes an “immediate high”. IVDA often involves the injection of illegal drugs into an individuals veins. The needles are often shared or re-used, exposing individuals to infectious diseases. One common complication of IVDA is infective endocarditis (IE). IE can occur when bacteria enters the bloodstream …

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Jessica A. Bernhard

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe respiratory ailment that is a chief cause of mortality for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (Gibbons, 2015). ARDS involves the rapid development of respiratory failure resulting from various diseases or injuries to the lungs. Because it includes both short and long term complications, early detection of ARDS is beneficial to prevent its devastating course. Often, these patients have various diseases and injuries which make it difficult to determine the appropriate therapy. Most therapies aim to enhance oxygenation. Some of the interventions include low tidal volume mechanical ventilation and placing the …

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Maria A. Hendrix

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic and often disabling condition that is seen in many patients seeking pain management. The condition leaves patients in excruciating pain that is disproportionate to the inciting injury. In addition, patients with this pain disorder experience abnormal sensations such as cold and heat allodynia, hyperalgesia, edema, abnormal sudomotor activity and trophic changes (D. Lee et al., 2015). CRPS disproportionally affects four times as many women as men (Alexander, Peterlin, Perreault, Grothusen, & Schwartzman, 2012). There are two types of CRPS: type 1, often referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is not evident …

Portal Hypertension, Kristi Loomis

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Chronic liver disease plagues the body with many significant complications. One of the more commonly identified complications is portal hypertension (PHT). Without intervention the elevated pressures in PHT will lead to extensive complications, and eventually death

Zika Virus, Abigail Hanneken

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the Spondweni serocomplex within the genus Flavivovirus, family flaviviridae (Weaver et. al, 2012). ZIKV is related to dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever viruses (Lazear et. al, 2016). ZIKV was first discovered in Uganda, but since then outbreaks have been reported in Africa and Southeast Asia. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil, where it began to rapidly spread throughout the region (CDC, 2016). Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing outbreak of Zika virus and associated …

Sepsis In The Intensive Care Setting, Katie Mojzisik

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Sepsis is a complex systemic illness. According to Kruse et al. (2016), neutropenic sepsis is a frequent complication in cancer patients. Although the underlying disease is curable, once transferred to the ICU with sepsis these patients have poor outcomes. • Patients who develop sepsis are commonly admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Working on the Medical Intensive Care Unit (JMICU) at the James Cancer Hospital, one sees septic cancer patients often. This cancer diagnosis places patients at a higher risk of developing sepsis. Some patients also have a high risk due to decreased immunity from chemotherapy treatments. Oncology patients can …

Pathophysiology Of Sepsis Associated Acute Kidney Injury, Amanda M. Urban

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Sepsis is a common cause of AKI. The research shows that AKI associated sepsis has high morbidity and mortality rates. According to Bonventre and Yang (2011) even if a patient survives the acute phase of kidney injury there are many chronic consequences that can occur as a result. These can include chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (p. 4210). This makes keeping up with further research and developments related to AKI all the more important to nurses. Many factors contribute to the occurrence of sepsis associated AKI. Sepsis is a major cause of AKI due to the alterations in …

Shingles, Kimberly M. Holland

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Millions of people in the United States are effected by shingles each year. Shingles, which is also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. The varicella zoster virus is what causes chicken pox. After a person is infected with chicken pox the virus lies dormant in the spinal and cranial sensory nerve ganglia. When the virus comes out of dormancy it travels down nerve axons affecting the skin in the area of the nerve endings. The prodromal phase is the time period before the rash appears where a person may experience itching, burning, …

Treacher Collins Syndrome: Challenges For Anesthesia Care, Clara Smith

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

This poster discusses the disorder known as Treacher Collins syndrome with a focus on understanding the syndrome and unique challenges in patient care. Hallmark features of the disorder present unique challenges for healthcare professionals, especially those providing anesthesia care. Patients with Treacher Collins syndrome are more much more likely than patients without the disorder to have a difficult airway. This poster explores the condition and some of the implications for providing safe patient care and achieving positive outcomes.

Anaphylaxis: Signs, Symptoms, And Pathophysiology, Brian A. Snyder

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Anaphylaxis is an emergent, life-threatening condition and quick provider response is imperative. When a patient has this acute and severe Immunoglobulin E hypersensitivity immune response, the health care provider must be ready to immediately act using an expert level of awareness. This project serves as an overview of this important topic and should cultivate a spirit of inquiry into institutional policies for management, as well as to inspire further research.

Understanding Ige-Mediated Food Allergies, Melissa M. Malinky

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Working as a nurse in a pediatric Allergy/Immunology clinic one would observe that the prevalence and resulting awareness of IgE-mediated food allergies in children has increased over the past decade. Many schools and camps are now going “nut free” and requiring Food Allergy Action Plans from a diagnosing physician. A study by Gupta et al. (2011) estimated 8% of children in the United States have a food allergy. Primary care providers (PCPs) are at the forefront of recognition, diagnosis, treatment and patient education of IgE-mediated food allergies. PCPs can benefit greatly from further education of the current evidence based diagnostic …

Septic Shock, Lacey Lauer

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Sepsis is a frequently seen diagnosis in hospital settings, which when left untreated can progress to severe sepsis and septic shock. Septic shock occurs in more than 230,000 patients in the United States annually and is the cause of more than 40,000 deaths (Seymour & Rosengart, 2015). It is very important for hospital staff members to quickly and accurately identify signs of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock so that patients can undergo treatment as quickly as possible. Studies have shown that the early treatment of sepsis may lead to decreased sepsis-related mortality (Benedict, 2015).

Ards: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Jeffrey Lobacz

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The purpose of this poster presentation is to discuss and examine the medical condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The presentation will include a review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and etiologies of ARDS, as well as treatment strategies and recovery. The implications to nursing will also be discussed with the hope that a deeper understanding of the disease process will result in continued improvement of the management of this patient population.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, Jessica Walter

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a reversible form of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Patients typically present with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome including chest pain, shortness of breath, elevated cardiac biomarkers and ST elevation. As a result, patients are emergently taken to the coronary catheterization lab for angiography of the coronary arteries.

Diabetic Nephropathy, Natalie Cochran

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Poster project on Diabetes mellitus (DM) which is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by an increase in blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia, resulting from inadequate secretion or action of insulin preventing glucose from being absorbed into the cells (McCance and Huether, 2014).

Joint Manifestations Of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pamela Allen

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Poster project on Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which is a common autoimmune disorder, affecting approximately 1% of the population worldwide. The interaction of genetic and environmental factors results in a cascade of immune reactions, which eventually lead to the development of structural bone damage, joint damage, and synovitis (Gibofsky, 2012).

Postoperative Ileus, Jamie Pearson

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

This author’s goal with this poster is to provide research on postoperative ileus to help others learn more about the pathophysiology of the condition, causes of ileus, symptoms, treatments, and prevention. By learning more on postoperative ileus, healthcare providers will be better prepared to care for postoperative patients to help prevent ileus after surgery and to better care for the patient if they were to develop an ileus. This poster can also serve as an education tool for patients by teaching the patient preventative measures to help protect themselves postoperatively.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Tameka Todd

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The content of this poster describes the pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The components included are an introduction, signs & symptoms, implications for nursing care and evidence-based references.

Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Regina F. Prusinski

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Gastroesophageal reflux is the return of stomach contents into the esophagus. It is normal in the newborn due to an immature gastroesophageal sphincter. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition found in 3.3% of the pediatric population that occurs when the physiological barrier of the esophageal sphincter opens during a transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR)period (Rinsma et al., 2016) resulting in complications like mucosal erosion, bleeding, dysphagia or failure to thrive (Quitadamo, Ummarino, Saiano, 2015). GERD in children can be directly related to late maturation of the gastroesophageal (GE) sphincter or an impaired hormonal or neurotransmitter response. A …

Zika Virus, Anne Ambrose-Young

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The Zika virus (Zika) was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda, with only 14 cases documented before 2007 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Over the last two years, however, this virus, formerly confined to the tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia, has been reported in South and Central America, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Polynesia, with the reports continuing to grow. In February, 2016, the World Health Organization reported that Zika has been elevated to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The spread of Zika is alarming because it has been associated with severe fetal …

Alzheimer's Disease Today & Tomorrow, Sherry L. Shaffer

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has impacted me on a personal level and professional level. I witnessed my grandfather slowly slip away at the hands of AD over the course of a decade. As a psychiatric nurse, I have provided care for geriatric patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and stuck in a cycle of acute psychiatric distress and chronic neurodegeneration.

• Over 100 years ago, Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described AD. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016)

• In 1994, former President Ronald Reagan put AD in the spotlight when he publicly shared his diagnosis. (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016)

• In 2013, the CDC estimates as many as 5 …

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Follicular Lymphoma, Audra Miller-Schaar

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Follicular Lymphoma (FL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. FL is a proliferation of the germinal center B cells mixed with nonmalignant cells. The genetic hallmark of FL is the translocation of T(14:18). Median age of diagnosis is 60-65, occurs rarely in children. Risk factors include, cigarette smoking, pesticides, increased body mass, first degree relative with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus, and immunodeficient states. FL is diagnosed with biopsy and staged and graded. Different treatment options are available, along with “watch and wait”, consists of no treatment, just continue with computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). There is no …

Lupus Nephritis: A Synopsis Of Pathophysiology And Implications For Advanced Nursing Practice, Nicole G. Warren

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can be described as a chronic, complex, autoimmune disorder (McCance & Huether, 2014). Disproportionately affecting women, and those of Afro-Cuban, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian descent, SLE has a prevalence of 2.0 to 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons in the United States. Characterized by chaotic autoantibody production, complement alterations, and formation of immune complexes, SLE has the potential to generate devastating damage to multiple organ systems. Formed from the binding of autoantibodies and self-antigens, immune complexes often result in renal damage, a significant complication of the disease. Through careful analysis and synopsis of literature, the writer …

Lynch Syndrome, Lydia Redick

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Poster project on Lynch Syndrome.

Myasthenia Gravis, Abbe R. Feaver

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by ocular, bulbar, facial, and skeletal muscle weakness due to a defect in the transmission of nerve to muscle impulses at the neuromuscular junction (Mestecky, 2013, p. 110). Approximately 14-20 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in the United States (Leis, Moore, Kofler, Beric, De Visser, 2014, p. 112). Typically, diagnosis occurs in middle-aged adults with women generally acquiring the disease at a younger age than men (Mestecky, 2013, p. 110). MG has the potential to greatly affect the quality of life of a patient. Although the disease …

Neurocysticercosis, Abigail Hill

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is one of the most common parasitic infections of the central nervous system in humans and is the most serious clinical manifestation of cysticercosis. NCC is caused by the ingestion of the larval form of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. NCC is endemic in low income developing countries where pigs are commonly raised, including the countries of Central America, South America, and parts of Africa and Asia. (Naddaf, Seeger, & Stafstrom, 2014). The parasite Taenia solium encysts in the brain and can express a broad range of symptoms including seizures, headache, hydrocephalus, encephalitis, stroke and mental health and …

Prevalence Of Sepsis In Pediatric Populations, Brittany Barnes

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Sepsis and more specifically septic shock in the pediatric population is a diagnosis that is full of complexities. There are instances where a neutropenic oncology patient observes a better outcome than a previously healthy patient who is suffering from the same pathogen related sepsis. Sepsis is the 10th leading cause of death according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and each year between 20,000 and 42,000 children are diagnosed with severe sepsis (Riley & Wheeler, 2012). Even with significant advances in medical treatment, sepsis is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. A retrospective study of patient …